Method of and apparatus for forming a key-slot in a bore wall for guiding the apparatus and for inserting a flexible conductor into the slot



July 1, 1958 F, JOY 2,841,376

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A KEY-SLOT IN A BORE WALL FORGUIDING THE APPARATUS AND FOR INSERTING A FLEXIBLE CONDUCTOR INTO THESLOT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1954 c 5:? :1 L M M W dfiozweifJuly 1, 1958 J. F. JOY 2,841,376

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A KEY-SLOT IN A BORE WALL FORGUIDING THE APPARATUS AND FOR INSERTING A FLEXIBLE CONDUCTOR INTO THESLOT Filed March 5, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Izwmziar: Jbsepizli' Toy (D,I/ flarney July 1, 1958 J. F. JOY 2,841,376 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORFORMING A KEY-SLOT IN A BORE WALL FOR GUIDING THE APPARATUS AND FORINSERTING A FLEXIBLE CONDUCTOR INTO THE SLOT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMarch 5 1954 ia fey In @622 $0 2: Jseyiafl' L709 tion within the slot.

Unite rates Patent Joseph F. 303], Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor to JoyManufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication lvl'arch 5, 1954, Serial No. 414,434

9 Claims. (Cl. 262-7) This invention relates to a method of and anapparatus for forming a longitudinal key-slot in a wall of asubterranean bore for guiding the apparatus in the bore and forinserting a flexible conductor leading to the apparatus into the slot asthe apparatus advances in the bore.

In my copending application Serial No. 296,324, filed June 30, 1952, nowPatent No. 2,822,159 dated February 4, 1958, an apparatus of the typeknown as a bore miner forms a subterranean bore of circular crosssection in the earth formation and since the bore is circular, means isprovided to hold the apparatus against bodily rotation in the boreduring its operation. a cutter for cutting a slot longitudinally alongone wall of the bore as the miner advances and a key on the miner entersand rides in this slot. A flexible power conductor and other power linesor conductors lead from beyond the bore, such as from the mine entry,and extend into the bore and these conductors or power lines lead to theminer and are dragged or otherwise moved into the bore with the minerand the latter is provided with guiding and directing means for engagingthese conductors or power lines and for directing the same into aprotected position within the slot. Suitable detachable clamps oranchors are secured to the slot walls at proper intervals for retainingthe conductors or lines within the slot.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of the applicationabove referred to, and is directed not only to the method of andapparatus for forming the key-slot and inserting the conductors or powerlines in the slot but further includes a modification of the apparatusfor inserting the flexible conductors or power lines into the slot.

An object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved method ofand apparatus for cutting a key-slot longitudinally in a side wall of asubterranean bore and for directing a flexible bore conductor or otherflexible v element connected to the apparatus into the slot as theapparatus advances within the bore. Another object is to provide animproved wall-slotting or grooving mechanism'embodied in the machine forforming a key-slot with which the machine has keyed engagement forholding the machine against bodily turning within the bore 7 during itsoperation and this key-slot is formed to receive the power conductorcables, water lines or other flexible elements associated with themachine. Yet another object is to provide an improved mobile apparatusmovable in a subterranean bore and having a flexible element connectedthereto, and guiding and directing means for the flexible element fordirecting the latter into the slot in the bore-wall as the apparatus isadvanced in the bore. adjustable anchor for the conductors or flexibleelements of the machine for retaining the same in protected posi- Theseand other objects and advantages of the invention will, however,hereinafter more fully appear in the course of the ensuing descriptionIn the accompanying drawings in which for purposes This bore minercarries 2,341,378 Patented July 1, 1958 of illustration, twoillustrative embodiments of vention from its apparatus aspect are shown:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mining machine constructed in accordance witha preferred illustrative form of the invention, with parts shown inhorizontal section.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a horizontal bore in a mine vein showingthe machine in operating position therein, with the section taken online 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section similar to Fig. 3 taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1,showing the expansible anchor for holding the cables and hose lines inthe key-slot in the bore-wall.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views showing the coacting toothed plate-likeelements of the anchor shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section showing the slot-cutting meansof. the modified form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a detail view with parts in horizontal section of a portionofthe modified machine, illustrating the pivotal mounting. structure ofthe key-slot mechanism and showing the machine-key riding in the slot.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, theimproved mobile machine for guiding and directing the flexibleconductors or power lines is generally designated 1 and is associatedwith the Bore Miner disclosed in my copending application Serial No.296,324, referred to above. This machine comprises a frame 2 mounted onpairs of rubber-tired wheels 3 and 4, and the front wheels 3 areswivelled steering wheels having associated steering gear and the rearwheels 4 are traction wheels. Carried by the machine frame is a motor 5for driving a conventional pumping means 6 having its suction sidesuitably connected to a liquid tank 7 on the machine-base. Any suitablecontrol valve means may be provided and the discharge side of thepumping means leads to a conventional reversible hydraulic motor 8 (Fig.5). This motor drives aligned shaftings 9 suitably journaled within themachine frame and these shaftings drive any suitable transmission meanssuch as chain sprockets 10 connected by endless drive chains 11 to chainsprockets 12 secured to the rear traction wheels 4. Also driven by theseshaftings is suitable transmission means such as shiftable gears 13splined to the shaftings respectively and respectively meshing withgears 14 and 15. The shiftable gears 13 are provided with any suitablemeans 16 for throwing the gears simultaneously into and out of mesh withthe gears 14 and 15 and this shifting means herein desirably maycomprise a reciprocable piston 17 contained in a hydraulic cylinder 18and having an operating rod 19 connected to shifter elements 20 engagingthe grooved hubs 21 of the shiftable gears 13. A coil spring 22 withinthe cylinder acts on the piston for urging the latter towards itsinnermost operating position, shown in Fig. 5.

The gears 14 and 15 are suitably journaled on upright axes on themachine frame and have secured to their respective hubs chain sprockets23 and 24 which are conthe innected by endless drive chains 25 to chainsprockets 26 A further object is to provide an improved secured tohorizontal winding drums or reels 27 and 28 respectively. These windingdrums or reels are likewise suitably journaled on upright axes on theupper portion of the machine frame, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The rearreel 27 is an electric reel and the front reel 28 is a water reel andthese reels have respectively wound thereon a flexible electric powerconductor or power line 29 and a flexible water hose or conductor 30.The electric conductor 29 and the water hose 30 lead to suitable sourcesof power or supply beyond the bore in the mine entry and these conductorand hose are disposable in a or rollers 31 and 32 and a conventional.cabler layifig'device. 33. .for evenlaying the conductor and; hose ;onto

their respective (reels. Th'eelectric cable maym supply electricity tothe motor 5, in a well-known-manner-. .The

electric cable 29 on the.reel'27 is connected toan electric cable35.through.us ual slip rings, 36 (Fig. 3) and the water hose. woundon.the reel 28 is. connected to a water hose 37 through a suitable-slipseal 38 associated with avertical .shaftf 39 on which the ,water. reelis journaled (Fig; 4). The" electric cable 35 and the waterhose 37 areconnficted through a suitable connector'device-41'to an electric cable42 and a water hose 43 leading from the machine to the. .bore minerdisclosed, in the copending application/mentioned above,, and themachinefiof t the present inventiontrails along within-thebore,just-,rearwardly of .the ;bore miner.

Theguidingand directing means forethe-power conductor and Water hoseis..general ly designated 45; and herein desirably comprisesv a, tubularhorizontal 'arnr or conduit 46 mounted on a swivelled bracket 47-siecured to .a vertical shaft 48 (Fig. journaled in .bearingsj49 suitably supported within the machineframeJ .This tubular arm 46 isdesirably composed of coiled wir'e tolproyide V for .limited flexibilityin horizontal. and vertical planes andhas a bell-mounted inneiyend; 50,.andl thisarm ,carries. at its outer end a bracket 51on which coaxial.sheaves orrollers 52 and 53- are suitably journaled The conductor andwater hose extend around the .sheaves'52,

' 53 and through the flexible hollow arm.4,,asjshown in Fig. 1. Aguideroller54, likewise journaled withinthe bracket 51, is. rubberfaced. and'holds the cable and hose in guided relation to the sheaves52, 53: so thatthe power conductor and water'hose may be properly.directed into and from the slot. Bracket 51 i s swivelly I mounted onthe outer end of the tubular arm14 6 ..and is adapted to be secured ineither of two predetermined reversed positions, as by a set screw 55, sothat the guide .sheavesmay operate in association with a slot disposedat' either side of the .bore.- Such flexibility of .th e armvenables thesheaves to automatically adjust themselves to varying height orunevenness of the key-slot andailsopermits yielding ofthearm.uponcontact .with anyobsjtruction. Suitable power means is provided forswinging'the tubular armkifi horiizontally about its swivel mounting andthe swinging means disclosed' herein desirably. comprises a hydrauliccylinder 56'pivotal1ymounted at 57 on the machine frame and containingareciprocable piston 5%;having its piston rod. 59-pivotally connected at69 to the swivelled bracket 47. Thus by properly supplying "liquid,under pressure to the cylinder 56 the 'guidearm may beswunghorizontally into operating positions at eithenside of they machine asdesired. From the. foregoing it is-evident thatas the machine isadvanced in the bore B the electric cable andwvater hose are properlylaid within theslot in thebdre-wall as they are payed out by the reelsand when themachine is reversed and moved r rearwardly in the bore {theelectric cable and water hose may be properly directed from the slot astheyare V wound in. i

Anchor devices.65 rare-adapted tobe located at intervals along thelength of: the slot for retaining-the power conductor and-water hosewithin the ;slot as the machine is advanced within-the bore and theseanchor devices'each compriseyas shown in Figs..6; 7 and 8, expansiblegrippin'gmlementsfifi and 67 havingserrations or teeth 68.. :Thegripping element 66 is in a form; of a plateand is slotted at fifi and-the gripping element 67 is likewise of platedike form and is providedQflwith;.an opening 78. a When. these pla te like elements 'are inassembled relation, as shown inFig; 6 a.-screw ll-:passes thereon a wingnut '72 which engages an outwardly bent portion 73 of the plate-likeelement'66i" Thus'when the anchor device is inserted'in' the slot, asshown in Fig.6, the wing nut may be tightened to spread the toothedportions of the plate-like elements apart thereby to grip the upper andlower walls of the slot. By loosening the wingnut the plate-likeelements may be released to per-' .;mit;ready detachment of the anchor.

'Inthemodified embodiment shown invFigsQ 9. and

10 the structure-disclosed may be associated with any suit-' ablemachine herein, for example, a machine similar to the,.b or e. miner ofthe application above referred to. The frame of the machine isdesignated 75, and mounted on this frame is a slot-cutting meansgenerally designated 76'. -This slot-cutting means comprises a motor 77pivotally mounted at 78 on brackets 79 secured to the machine frame 75,v Mounted on the.motor housing to swing horizontally with the motor is agearhousing 80 on which a'rotary. cutter, 0 herein, desirably ac'utterwheel; 31, isijour'naled for roration about a vertical axis;-Secured to the motor shaft;

is a worm 82 meshing with a wormwheel83keyed to the upper .end; of avertical. shaft 84.suitably journaled' in bearings supported within thegear housing'-80. The

rotary'cutter wheel is carried. at the lowerend' ofthe vertical shaftSin the manner shown in Fig. 9; Ahorizontal'fluid. cylinder"85 ispivotally mounted at86 on the adjacent; side of the machine fram'e'75to. swing in horizontal planes. and reciprocablein this cylinder is apiston'87 having its piston rod pivotally connected to of themachine, asshown in Fig. 10, so as the bore rniner advances the key-slot or grooveS is cut in the'bore wall.

.nearly at the. horizontal .center of the bore." Secured totheadjacentfside of .the machine is a projection in the form of akey:9t) which enters and rides in-the keyslo t S as'the machineadvancesandithis key'not; only serves to :holdthe machine against bodilyrotation within thebore but also to'clear the slot of cuttings. A powerconductor "cable and a water line 91 and 92'lead to the .bore miner for,supplying power medium and water, under pressure thereto, and thesecable and water lines are directed into the key-slots as the bore mineris advanced and are moved out. of the slot as the bore .miner is re.

traded in the bore; The key 99 is adjustably secured to the machineframe by bolts'93 which pass through transverse slots 94 in a support 95on the machine frame,

and at times the key may be retracted within the lateral j limits'of themachine, as for example, prior toentry of the machine into its launchingcarriage, as described in ,the .above ment ioned copending application.j The com 5 ductors; 91 and 92 shown in Pig. 10Iare shown clamped a t 96 to, themachineframe aridare so arranged ins. t

vbe dragged or otherwisemoved. into the key-slot S asthe and. apparatusfor forming a key-slot'in the side wall .of

a subterranean borefor guiding the: apparatus and for laying a fle xibleelement, such as a power conductor or' water line, }wit hin the slot asthe machine is advanced .within therbore l-Ity the provision of theimproved slotcutting means, a longitudinal; slot may be cut; in a sidewall of the homes the machine is advanced and a; key 1 onqthe machine rides in the key-slotfor holdingthemachine 'againstbodily rotation in-thebore.) Byj tlre prtr -,visionjofthe;improved =guidingaand directingrneans for 7Q; the :flexible-power1conducton and} Water; line',;' the;con- 'ductQr-;and--water- -lineare automatcially laid in the slot" 7 in;a protected position as the machine advances: These apl' flrenttoihoseskilled in theart.

. through. the slot 69 and openingJQ andhasjhreaded 7 5 While1here1arein this-applicationspecifically described.

to swing in horizontal .planes.

two forms which the invention, from its apparatus aspect, may assume inpractice and one mode of practice of the invention, from its methodaspect, it will be understood that this invention may be modified andembodied in various other forms and operated in accord ance with othermethods without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine movable in a bore formed in a mine vein and which here hasa slot extending longitudinally along a wall thereof and having anupwardly facing lower well, said machine comprising, in combination, amobile support moving within the bore, a flexible power conductorelement leading from a power source beyond said bore to said support forsupplying power medium to the machine, and guiding and directing meansmovable bodily with said support for engaging said conductor element todeflect the latter laterally beyond the bore-walls and for directing theconductor element into the slot in the bore-Wall as said support movesin the bore, the lower wall of said slot supporting the conductorelement in position in said slot cxteriorly of the bore-walls.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guiding anddirecting means includes an adjustable guiding element, and means foradjustably mounting said guiding element for movement in horizontal andvertical planes within the bore relative to said support for deflectingthe conductor element laterally at diiferent points.

3. A machine movable in a subterranean bore which has a slot formedlongitudinally in a wall thereof and having an upwardly facing lowerwall, the machine comprising, in combination, a mobile support moving inthe bore, a reel on said support, a flexible conductor element wound onsaid reel and'extcnding into the bore from beyond the bore, and guidingand directing means on said support for engaging said flexible elementfor deflecting the latter laterally beyond the bore-walls and fordirecting the flexible element into the slot in the bore-wall as thesupport moves bodily within the bore, the lower wall of said slotsupporting the conductor element in position in said slot exteriorly ofthe bore-walls.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said guiding and directingmeans includes an adjustable guiding and directing element mounted onsaid support and extending angularly from the mobile support Within thebore having adjustable mounting means for adjusting said guiding anddirecting element in vertical planes relative to said support fordeflecting said conductor element laterally at different points.

5. A method of protecting a flexible conductor by deflecting the latterinto a longitudinal slot formed in the wall of a subterranean bore,comprising forming a slot in the wall of a bore as the latter is formedwith the slot at a point spaced from the floor and roof with the slotprovided with an upwardly facing lower wall, and deflecting theconductor laterally beyond the bore-walls to position the conductor inthe slot as the latter is formed so that the conductor is supported bythe lower slot-wall exteriorly of the bore-walls.

6. A machine movable in a bore in an earth formation and comprising amobile support moving Within the bore and advancing therein as the boreis formed, said support having a flexible power conductor connectedthereto and extending into the bore-hole, mechanism on said support forforming a recess longitudinally in the borewall with the lower wall ofthe recess facing upwardly and in which recess said power conductor isreceived as the support advances in the bore, and means on said supportfor deflecting the conductor laterally into the recess so that theconductor is supported by the lower wall of the recess exteriorly of thebore-walls.

7. A machine for laying a flexible conductor in a slot formed in theWalls of a subterranean bore comprising a mobile base moving in thebore, a reel on said base on which the conductor is Wound, a guide forthe conductor, and means for swivelly mounting said guide on said baseto swing relative thereto and said guide extending angularly from saidbase within the bore and carrying a conductor guiding and deflectingelement at its outer extremity for deflecting the conductor laterallyinto the slot whereby the lower wall of the slot provides a support forthe conductor exteriorly of the bore-walls.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said guide is swingable toangularly disposed positions within the bore at either side of said baseand said guiding element is provided with mounting means swivelled toturn about the longitudinal axis of said guide for reversing saidguiding element relative to the outer extremity of said guide fordirecting the conductor laterally from either side of the base.

9. A machine movable in a subterranean bore of circu lar cross section,the machine comprising a mobile base moving in the bore, means on saidbase for cutting a slot longitudinally along one wall of the boreintermediate the floor and roof with the slot located a substantialdistance above the floor, the slot having an upwardly facing lower wall,a sliding key on said base riding in the slot rearwardly of said cuttingmeans for holding the machine against bodily rotation in the bore, saidkey serving to clear out the cuttings from the slot as it advances withthe machine, a flexible conductor leading to said base and connectedthereto, and guiding and directing means on said base rearwardly of andin alignment with said key for engaging the conductor for deflecting thelatter laterally beyond the bore-wall to direct the conductor into theslot as said bore advances with the conductor supported by the lowerwall of the slot exteriorly of the bore-wa1ls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS278,233 Goodridge May 22, 1883 356,152 Munsie Jan. 18, 1887 972,240Potts Oct. 11, 1910 1,423,889 Townsend July 25, 1922 1,467,155 HartleySept. 4, 1923 1,674,870 Morgan June 26, 1928 1,815,532 Vesey July 21,1931 2,118,490 Challacombe May 24, 1938 2,474,920 Stearns July 5, 19492,529,486 Clarkson et a1 Nov. 14, 1950 2,605,060 Bell July 29, 19522,633,309 Beck Mar. 31, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 694,195 France Sept. 15,1930 612,185 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1948 672,403 Great Britain May 21,1952 (Corresponding U. S. 2,699,328, Jan 11, 1955)

